WOW! I’m TERRIBLE!I just read the last email I sent and sadly realized how unfair I’ve been about sharing our summer with you. It will be difficult, but I’ll try to sum up the past two months in as few words as possible. . .
July 16-20, 2008
COLLEGE STATION TRIP:
We took Ana home and were fortunate to spend a few days with Timmie, Lidia, Ana and Gene on their stomping grounds. We had a blast! We played at the park, went swimming at A & M’s recreation center (awesome pool), shopped at Houston’s new outlet mall, celebrated Gene’s 1st birthday, redecorated Ana and Gene’s room, watched Lidia become a U.S. citizen (way to go!). . .we had so much fun! Jayci Joy is STILL asking when she can play with Ana again! I’m so thankful for the close relationship I have with both my brothers and their families. We all look forward to their visits and are always sad to see them end!
July 29-30, 2008
A BITTERSWEET DAY:
It is with great sadness I tell you our Papa, Ed Nickels, never made it home from the hospital. After surgery, when the lower lobe of his right lung was removed, he seemed to be doing well. . .for a few days anyway. I’m not sure if it was the cancer or pneumonia – but Papa’s body could fight no more. He lived a wonderful life and leaves behind a legacy many generations to come will cherish. I will be forever grateful for the memory I have as I watched him carry Jayci Joy one last time around the track at the Relay for Life event as they celebrated being cancer survivors together, I will hold dear the last words Jayci Joy spoke to her Papa at church that last Sunday morning when she reminded him “Dezus (Jesus) in dere Papa,” and I will never forget the glow on Papa’s face as he watched his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren together one last time at Jayci Joy’s cancer free celebration party. Jayci’s cancer was very hard on Papa. . .I remember seeing the sadness in his eyes during those first few trying weeks, I remember him saying he’d do anything just to take her place, I remember his comforting presence throughout her sickness constantly reminding us to keep our faith, I remember the glow in his eyes each time he’d see her, I remember the “gummy grin” and twinkle in his eyes the day he learned she was cancer free. . .and I will never forget the knowing nod we were told he gave when he learned Jayci’s port (the device implanted in her chest that served as the I.V. line her chemotherapy was given through) had been removed just hours before he passed away. We miss Papa terribly and still tear up when we walk into church and Jayci Joy asks “Where’s my Papa?” It is comforting to us all when Guy or I remind her “. . .he’s with Jesus now Jayci” and she smiles, gathers her crayons, and heads for the balcony. . .it’s amazing that a 2 year old understands what an AWESOME reward Heaven is.
August 9, 2008
DANCE JAYCI DANCE:
I have a new respect for parents of toddlers who serve as flowergirls and ringbearers. Jayci Joy gave me this new respect when she served as flowergirl for our cousin, Amberlee. She really did a good job. . .and Amberlee deserves more than a gold star for her patience and understanding with her! Let’s just say that morning brunch and tea parties with real, breakable, dishes are every little girl’s dream (and the cause of a near nervous breakdown from their Mamas J); that posing for pictures when you’re dressed like a fairytale princess is not something my Cinderella thought she should have to do and walking perfectly down the aisle and behaving throughout the ceremony was something I never thought she’d do. . .yet, she did, and couldn’t have done a better job if I’d asked her to! Well, she did stop to dance when she heard the “beuful” music playing about halfway down the aisle and announced to everyone “I dancing. . .I dancing” as she did it! It was really cute and as a dear friend said, “If anyone deserves to dance at a wedding, it’s Jayci Joy. We ALL needed to see that!” When I thought about what she said, I figured out she was right, I DO hope you DANCE Jayci Joy!
THANK YOU, Amberlee and Cody, for letting us be a part of your special day!
August 16, 2008:
WE’D LIKE YOU ALL TO COME TO TEXAS!
A summer spent without special time with the Nickels’ cousins would be a summer I would regret. Chad and Kayla allowed Kennedi, Jaegan, and Mia to spend 2 days and 1 night with us. . .boy did we have a BLAST! We stayed up late, slept ‘til 9, talked, played. . .we were even fortunate enough to spend several hours “mudding” on the 4-wheeler with Grammy Ju and her granddaughter, Kali. I have never seen so many MUDDY little girls in my life! At one point I could only see the whites of Jaegan Faye’s eyes! I am thankful for the country life we live and the ability to pile 2 adults and 5 little girls on a 4-wheeler, mud down a dirt road, and play in ½ a mile of knee high water on a dirt road for hours without interruption! Those girls will never forget that day.
Saturday night we all loaded up and went to see the play “TEXAS!” in Palo Duro Canyon. Unfortunately we only got to see the first half of the play. . .it rained. . .I mean POURED on us! However we had a great time sharing an awesome meal and seeing ½ of a fabulous show with Chad and Kayla, their family, Chris and Lora, and our friend, Kathy.
I hope the girls will spend another memorable weekend with us soon! Guy and I are fortunate to have siblings and nieces and nephews as awesome as we do! We treasure the time we spend with them and their families!
August 29, 2008:
GO MULES GO!
Jayci Joy sported Meemaw’s latest creation at the first football game of the season last Friday. She looked FANTASTIC! THANK YOU MEEMAW! People are still talking about our little cheerleader!
September 2, 2008:
F.E.T. (frozen embroyo transfer) DAY:
I finally had the opportunity to share with you about the past two months because I’m on complete bed rest for the next 3 days. . .and I’m THRILLED about it. That’s because I know of the AWESOME REWARD we pray will join us next May. After several months of talking and praying about it, Guy and I decided it was time for Jayci Joy to have a sibling. . .or two. She is a sweet, smart, and funny little girl, but some competition and companionship would be good for her and us. Let’s just say there are times we go way too easy on her. J
After several weeks of medications and shots, my body was finally ready to implant the embroyos we froze 3 years ago after learning Jayci Joy was on the way.
We were relieved to learn 2 of the embroyos survived being frozen and thawed and decided to implant them both. We know this is our last chance for biological children and pray they both survive yet will praise God no matter what the outcome. You see, 3 ½ years ago we learned invitro fertilization was our only hope for biological children, and God blessed us with the ONE we prayed for. He has given us more MIRACLES during the past 3 years than many will receive in a lifetime. Yet, we are praying for just 1 (or 2) more.
We will learn if the baby or babies attached on Sept. 12th. Please pray for patience. . .for me as I lay still and pray for the best; for Guy as he becomes Mama, Daddy, and breadwinner; for Jayci Joy as she learns that Mama can’t “hold you” for awhile; and for our families as they take time out of their busy schedules to help with mama duties while I’m down.
Dancing with Santa! 
